Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-06
A MlSER'S STORE.
Peter Bennett Of Plymouth
Robbed
Of the Hard Savings Of a Long
Life Of PriVatiOn and Toll.
The Robbers Secure Thirty Thousand
Dollars in Money.
And Pound Their Victim on the Head in
a Prishtful Manner.
A Kennebec Journal Reporter Visits the
Scene OF the Robbery.
A kennebec Journal Reporter Visits the
Scene OF the Robbery.
And Interviews the Victim and His
Relatives.



NEWPORT, Dec. )
There is great excitement in this vicinity
over the bold robbery at Peter Bennetts, a
rich farmer Of Plymouth, last night at about
II O'Clock. Mr. Bennett and his wife had
retired as was their custom early in the even
ing. In the room with them was large,
common zinc covered trunk, which for some
years has served Mr.. Bennett as a vault and
IN which he has kept sums of money amount
ing To many thousands besides notes, mort
cages and other securities representing a
larger amount of invested wealth. The fact
that this money was kept in Mr.. Bennett
bed room was no secret in town. 1t was
very generally known, for the room is pro-
vided with a large, open fire place and serves
as sitting room as well as bed room. Here
i'll plain view under the table is the trunk in
which Mr.. Bennett has stored hi. wealth,
have taken place. Mr.. Bennett is now "A
years of age and his wealth is the result of
a careful saving of life time, combined
with the most prudent investments. He has
for years been the money lender of this re-
gon, and his business operations have given
him hold on a large amount of property in
the surrounding towns.
Mr. Bennett has always had terror of
banks and some years ago, when several
savings banks failed, he visited Bangor in
company with his wife and took from ma
tional bank there SIS 900 and carried it
home with him in an old satchel. Since that
time the old trunk has been his only banker.
But man worth S75 900 needs some more
secure place to keep his wealth than this,
especially in wild and isolated country
place. And last night Peter found that the
old trunk was a tempting and convenient
plum for robbers to pick.
About twelve o'clock the old man was
awakened by parties in his room. He at
tempted to rise and was at once dragged
from his bed, and voice in the darkness
said, We won't hurt you, Bennett, if you
keep quiet, but if you don't wen kill you.
Upon his attempting to cry out one of the
parties grabbed him by the throat and dealt
him a number of blow. upon the head with a
large revolver. at the same time firing sew
eral shots. The other, for there were two
persons dragged the trunk through the
kitchen to the shed and into the orchard by a
back door.
At the time of the robbery there was no
one in the house with the old
gentleman and his wife except a
young man named George Patten, and
his wife, granddaughter of Mr.. Bennett
Patten and his wife was terrified at the
sound hich came from the old gentleman s
room, and escaping from the window hast
ened to the house of the old mans son Frank
Bennett for assistance. Upon hearing their
story Frank seized gun and started back with
him for his fathers house. On the way
there he was met by his father in his night
clothes and with the blood streaming down
his face Together they returned to the
house.
Dr. Harvey of Newport was at once sum
moned to attend the wounded man and
the neighbors aroused. A search of the bed
room where the robbery was committed dis
covered a dark lantern and a heavy Colts
revolver. In addition to this were several
small book straps The large trunk was
discovered in the orchard broken into and
the contents gone. In this trunk two small
er trunks had been kept. One of these
was found on the spot and the other some
distance up on the railroad track. About
fifty rods back of the railroad track smith
and Wesson revolver was discovered with
every chamber loaded except one. \ ten
dollar bill considerably blood-staned was
also found on the track.
When the kennebec Journal reporter ar
rived in East Newport at six O'Clock tonight
he found officers Allen of the Bangor police
and sheriff Brown of Penobscot about taking
the train for home. 1t is understood that
thev will return in the morning.
The citizens were greatly excited over the
A fair and it was the absorbing and sole topic
OF cOuNersallOu. II " as " '"' ~ ''S' -
and the prospects of getting to the Bennett
nlace were somewhat dubious, but Mr.. j.
L Carr. one of the most genial and whole
souled citizens of East Newport came to the
rescue. and in company with him, the scribe
was soon driving along by the light of Ian
tern over the ::onely country roads TO the
.cene of the robbery. Upon arriving at the
bouse of Mr.. Frank Bennett. he was called
ant and introduced to the scribe and at once
agreed to 20 with him to his fathers house
The Younger Bennett was far from respecta
HE looking person. He was just recovering
from a glorious drunk, with which he had
celebrated his fathers misfortune, and was
,rofpse with boasts of what he should have
dane had he been present at the robbery ,and
.bed maudlin tears of regret to think that NJ,
old father should have been abused so, and
not been there to protect him.
A. Frank was climbing into the wagon
his wife interposed Are you going to leav'
me Frank!
..Only up to fathers.
..But I don't dare to stay here alone
/ ..WeIl. there's two loaded guns behin'
the door, and if anyone comes along when